UEFA study tunnel video

VIDEO evidence of a melee in the tunnel at half-time during England's crunch Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey in Istanbul will hold the key to whether UEFA bring disciplinary proceedings against either country.

VIDEO evidence of a melee in the tunnel at half-time during England's crunch Euro 2004 qualifier against Turkey in Istanbul will hold the key to whether UEFA bring disciplinary proceedings against either country.

Players and officials were involved in the scuffle following incidents when Turkish defender Alpay taunted David Beckham for missing a penalty and then poked him in the face as the teams walked off the pitch at the break.

Italian referee Pierluigi Collina called Beckham and Aston Villa defender Alpay (both pictured) into his room at half-time and ordered both sides to calm down.

Collina mentioned the incident in his report, and he could not have missed much of what went on in the players' tunnel as video footage, screened for the first time on UK television last night, shows him to be in the midst of the melee calming players down.

The footage shows a great deal of pushing and shoving among both sets of players and officials - which one player described as a 'bundle'.

England players, particularly Emile Heskey, react angrily to an incident at one point as they and Turkish officials make their way to the dressing rooms.

But it is not clear from the footage who sparked off the hostilities or how.

UEFA have already started disciplinary proceedings against the Turkish football association for incidents when flares were lit in the stadium and a couple of missiles thrown on the pitch. These are not viewed as major incidents and are likely to result in a fine.

UEFA communications director Mike Lee said: "We have started proceedings against the Turkish FA for a lack of order and discipline in the stadium and this will lead to a disciplinary charge to be heard at the control and disciplinary body meeting on October 30.

"On the question relating to the players, as a result of Mr Collina's report we have decided to request video evidence before deciding whether or not a formal disciplinary process is needed."

Lee added: "Mr Collina was able to see most of what happened in the tunnel himself and in fact dealt with what happened extremely well.

"We have to make sure that he did not miss anything before deciding whether or not to take action."